Violent Rebirth of a City:- Hausmann’s Paris & the Making of Modern Urban Society

The story of humanity, in many ways, is told through its cities. Seething masses whose energy and dynamism despite their, obvious chaos makes them theatres for events that change history. Where trade flourished, ideas thrived, Literature & Philosophy flowered, tensions negotiated, revolutions erupted and Dreams & Hopes, fulfilled and extinguished. Cities represent a human civilization in motion, with all its industriousness and imperfection, They are also in a state of eternal flux; everything is ephemeral, just to be replaced by something new.
An extremely fractious debate in urban and civic history is to what extent people and communities can be accommodated and provided with a life of wellbeing and dignity, amidst the overwhelming pressures of demographic, economic, and social change. Growth with its uplifting power can become self-destructive, if not supported by practices that promote sustainability, social cohesion, and public peace and harmony, The spate of unplanned urban growth in many parts of the world particularly the developing ones is testament to this.
In the 19th Century, one such epochal urban change unfolded shaking the very foundations of a great European City; Paris, the Capital of a Colonial Power, and former seat of the Enlightenment, & the French Revolution. Saddled by overcrowding, uncleanliness, disease, dinginess, and poor safety, the city’s narrow medieval streets were the lament of citizens and socialites alike. Everything would change however when one man took the reins of administration………the city would be uprooted so forcefully, the legacy of which continues to remain controversial to date… Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte had a vision for the city; disgusted by what he saw, he wanted the city to look more London, known for its big parks and broad tree-lined avenues. This he believed was the only solution to Paris’s problems, and for it to be a great city. He then entrusted the task to his closest public servant, a controversial man by the name of Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. His plan cut the city into three halves with two main roads running East-West & 1 North to South. Out of this grid would radiate broad and symmetrical avenues cutting across the city’s principal monuments and landmarks. A fine vision to say the least, but one whose aftermath would be dreadful, to those who faced the brunt, rather than blessings of this rejuvenation. Hausmann’s project cut through the city’s cramped streets, clearing 12,000 medieval tenements to make way for regal and flawlessly furnished buildings such as the Palais Garnier, Les Halles marketplace, and new train terminals with his long, wide and straight avenues. A new and sophisticated sewage network was laid out, separating sewage water and drinking water and reservoirs were aqueducts were commissioned. Roads were widened extending 137 km lined with artsy street lamps. The new streets came with trees and broad pavements along which café terraces sprang up.
The city was changed in almost profound ways. What was once an urban sprawl of fetid tenements was transformed into a Neo-Classical Paradise, with airy boulevards, tranquil parks, elegant cobblestoned streets neatly decorated facades. Epidemics ceased, traffic eased, and the elegant buildings with their geometrically harmonious plan, truly elevated the quality of urban life. If today, Paris is frequented by millions for its regal charm, Hausmann deserves credit. The darker side of this transformation, however, was heart-wrenching; the city’s medieval fabric was torn apart, its local traditions destroyed and nearly 350,000 people displaced. As though this was not enough, it also ruptured neighborhoods where the rich and poor co-existed, leading to socio-economic segregation; this, in turn, deepened the divide between the rich. Rents are also known to have soared. Discussions were also directed towards how the wide “Boulevards” were meant to solidify military control and crush dissent. Coincidentally, around the same time (circa 1858), another such revamp unfolded in New York, for the construction of the famous Central Park. The construction was prompted by the chaos of urban life and the shortage of green space. A Plan was approved by the city’s elite in the 1840s for 750 acres to be set aside. The move razed several settlements including the famous “Seneca Village” populated by newly freed black citizens, as well as a couple of Irish and German migrant communities. Tenements were at the time being referred to as “Shanties”, housing “Scoundrels”. Today, however, the Central Park is enjoyed by domestic and foreign visitors, reveling in its serene environs in the middle of a large city.
A most perplexing question confronts, policy-makers, leaders, and organizations when it comes to an issue as complex as Urban Development. How can the development of cities be squared with the wellbeing of average citizens? In a rapidly urbanizing world, this question becomes all the more crucial. Urban Malaise is, in fact, a reflection of broader social, economic and political evils in the society and its redressal, therefore, be inclusive of the same. Ambitious civic and infrastructural works, and “Smart City” programs may not always have the answers to some of the deep-rooted social issues confronting major cities. Large Scale Economic growth and Developmental incentives may not always have the solution to some of the yawing iniquities of urban areas. Even supposedly great cities like the ones discussed above did not always manage to shed the legacy of the past. Paris today, despite its architectural and civic glory still suffers from high rents, inequalities, and socio-economic segregation. Buenos Aires, a booming city in the late 19th Century, which was characterized by gross inequality between natives and newly immigrated Italian workers, seems to have a similar divide now, that exists between local Argentines and immigrants from other Latin American Countries. Air & Water Pollution, Noise Pollution, Poor Waste Disposal & Sanitation, Disease & Soil Erosion continue to remain huge issues in many cities in the developing world, even amongst those which have seen a marked improvement in their material conditions. Psychological issues like Loneliness and Urban Alienation remain big issues even in cities in the Developed World and an absence of cultural life has been proven to be harmful. Any effort, at development and revitalization of urban areas, should consider the city as an Organism, with a Past, Present, and Future, reflective of the larger society it is embedded in. Efforts at sustainability must be tied to the local context to make it more participative so that the latter does not risk coming at the expense of the former. Cities after all are the most visible symbols of human progress, should we not leave a legacy behind that we are not just proud of, but will directly impact their wellbeing?